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In a potential blow to Switzerland's Davis Cup ambitions, Roger Federer pulled out of the ATP World Your Finals less than one hour before his title match against Novak Djokovic on Sunday, handing a third straight title at the year-end event to the top-ranked Serb.

The
17-time Grand Slam champion said he hurt his back in the nearly
three-hour semifinal win over Davis Cup teammate Stan Wawrinka on
Saturday night in which Federer saved four match points.

"Unfortunately, I'm not match fit to play the match tonight," said
Federer on court. "Clearly I wish it wasn't so. I tried all year to be
ready for the ATP World Tour Finals, and I didn't want it to
end this way. I tried everything I could last night, also today -
painkillers, treatment, rest, so forth, warm-up, until the very end -
but I just can't compete at this level with Novak. It would be too risky
at my age to do this right now and I hope you understand.

"I wanted to come out personally and excuse myself. It's been a great
week for me. I played some great tennis and I love coming to The O2 and
to London, and there's been so many great memories for me here.
Congrats of course to Novak, who’s played an amazing season, and an
amazing tournament here as well. I hope we can play some more great
matches, hopefully next year.

"Thanks to all you guys for making it special to come out and play
tennis all around the world. I know you guys travel, as well, and spend a
lot of money on tickets and so forth. We really, really appreciate it -
me in particular. It keeps me going, it makes me tick, especially at
this age. Hopefully, I can come back next year and get another chance to
compete for the title here. So thank you very much and I'll see you
soon. I appreciate it."

It is only the third time in Federer’s career that he has been forced to
withdraw, each time due to a back injury - also walkovers at 2008-Paris
QFs vs. Blake and 2012 Doha SFs vs. Tsonga.

Fans appeared to be supportive with applause for Federer when he spoke.

The
Swiss is set to play for Switzerland in the Davis Cup final against
France, starting Friday. If he recovers in time, Federer will be chasing
the only major trophy still eluding him. France hosts the match in the
northern city of Lille and has opted for clay, a slow surface that could
further thwart Federer's chances to perform well.

''I
don't think he was calculating and trying to save his body for Davis
Cup final,'' said Djokovic. ''This is probably the biggest match of the
season next to the final of a Grand Slam. I spoke to him, it's a
question mark for the Davis Cup final as well.

''You never like to win, especially these big matches against big rivals, with the retirement,'' said Djokovic.

"I feel sorry for Roger. I've been in tennis 10 years and I know Roger
and Rafa have been the biggest competitors and always give their
100 percent. If Roger could have come out and played he would have
played," said Djokovic when he was presented with the trophy.

"I wish him all the best for his recovery, he has an important week ahead of him with the Davis Cup final."

Following back problems that
ruined his 2013 season, Federer enjoyed a superb resurgence this season,
losing to Djokovic in an epic Wimbledon final and adding five new
titles to his collection.

Federer,
the most successful player at the ATP Finals with six wins, also made
it to the semifinals at the Australian Open and the U.S. Open and won
his 23rd Masters title in Shanghai last month. He remained on course for
the year-end No. 1 spot until this week and had dropped just one set on
the way to the final.

''I think you have some recurrent things coming back from time to
time,'' the second-ranked Federer said. ''It's not that much of a
surprise. I must say I've been feeling really good for over a year now,
which has been not a surprise, but it's been very nice. So this back
spasm, whatever it might be, it's just not a fun thing to have during
the day. It's just uncomfortable. But I'm positive and I'm hopeful
that it's going to go away very soon.''

To appease
disappointed fans, home favorite Andy Murray, thrashed by Federer in the
week, agreed to play Djokovic in a one-set exhibition match, before
partnering John McEnroe in a doubles game against Tim Henman and Pat
Cash.

Federer now faces a battle to be fit for the Davis Cup final against France which starts in Lille on Friday.

Along with the Olympic singles title, the Davis Cup is the
major honor which still eludes the 17-times grand slam champion, with
Switzerland's hopes resting on the shoulders of him and Wawrinka.

"The way I feel right now there's no way I can compete at
any level really," Federer said. "Probably in a few days it's going to
be better."